Arthritis

Glucosamine no better than placebo for Arthritis

GLUCOSAMINE is no better than placebo for osteoarthritis, according to a leading Australian rheumatologist.

Professor David Hunter, from the Royal North Shore Hospital and University of Sydney, told the Australian Rheumatology Association annual scientific meeting this week one of the main problems of managing the condition was that much of what was done relied on a placebo effect.

“There have been lots and lots of studies done with glucosamine and they are quite variable in terms of their methods,” Professor Hunter told MO.

“The best evidence currently available would suggest they are no better than a placebo.”

He cited a recent systematic review (Zhang et al) demonstrating there was no benefit above placebo in well-designed studies.

Professor Hunter advised that patients already established on glucosamine should continue taking it.